Chapter 2

2

"Strong lady, someone is trying to kill me. Please be my bodyguard and help me reunite with my attendants."

"I can tell you are a person of great kindness."

"A hero of the underworld should always stand up for justice…"

I really wanted to tell him I wasn't a hero.

None of that moved me in the slightest; I was only interested in finding a job.

Until he pulled out a five-hundred-dollar bill.

My mother always said that kind people receive blessings, so I followed him without hesitation.

He gave me the only money he had, and I left it all for Sienna.

The two of us had to travel while hungry and cold. He said his men would definitely be looking for him along the road.

Two days later, I couldn't take it anymore. Under my intimidation, he slumped his shoulders and traded his jade pendant for some supplies.

Because of that conspicuous jade pendant, his attendants found us, even though we had both lost a bit of weight.

The first thing the lead attendant said was: "How dare you kidnap our Young Prince!"

They attacked without another word. To be precise, I didn't even get a chance to speak.

It perfectly proved the saying 'like master, like servant'―they were all equally stupid.

In less than five minutes, a dozen men were flat on the ground. I was the only one left standing, looking completely unbothered.

In reality, I was so out of breath I could barely stand.

I had been eating nothing but dry bread for days without a single scrap of meat. I was malnourished and weak.

I finally learned that this kid was the young master of the Sterling Estate. His father was the only Duke appointed by the current Governor-General.

I held out my hand for some cash and prepared to say goodbye.

I had already decided to devour at least two roasted chickens before going home.

Five hundred dollars was enough for Third Sister's wedding and two years of expenses for the organization.

"Would you be willing to be my maid?"

The little idiot's eyes were shining. I wondered if his brain had been damaged by my pressure during the trip.

"It's only a maid on the surface. In reality, you'll be my protector."

I didn't say anything. My mother said that Empire City was a place where people ate each other alive, and I didn't want to stay.

"Fifty gold coins a month."

Ruby Vance, daughter of the legendary Jenna Vance, turned into a spineless coward in the face of gold.

My mother's glorious reputation was probably going to be ruined in my hands.

But the meat was just so delicious.

I'd stay for two years and then leave, I told myself.

I tore into a chicken leg with a vengeance as I listened to Skylar's plan to attack the bandits at Azure Ridge.

It wasn't because he wanted to help the people.

It was simply because he found out the idiot who threw him out of the second-story window was from Azure Ridge.

As a loyal protector, I had to be wherever my master was.

In truth, it was because Skylar promised me half of the loot.

I didn't have to do any work on this trip at all.

When word got out that the Young Prince was going to wipe out the bandits, the local sheriff brought his entire force.

The bandits didn't even try to struggle; they surrendered immediately.

I sat in the back of the warehouse, giggling like a fool while hugging the bags of coins.

I figured if we did this a few more times, I could even save up enough for the boys' wedding presents.

I tried to guide Skylar into a sweeping cleanup all the way back to Empire City, but the little guy actually had principles.

"They never intended to take my life. I just want to find out who actually put the hit on me."

When I found out that someone had offered a thousand gold bars for Skylar's life, I gnashed my teeth in anger.

"Shouldn't they hire a professional assassin for that kind of money?"

I glared at the attendants around this idiot. Every one of them looked like a weakling.

I really wanted to find this buyer and offer my own services.

"Professional killers are hard to find these days. Most of them have changed careers…"

True. For example, I had become a bodyguard.

After arriving at Empire City, I compromised and put on a formal gown due to the butler's strong objections.

When I appeared before Skylar in a green dress, I noticed his puppy-like eyes were sparkling like silver.

This greatly satisfied my vanity as a skinny beanpole.

"What kind of look is that, Young Prince? This Ruby girl isn't nearly as pretty as the Lady Aria."

As I swept a murderous gaze over them, the gossiping guards scattered instantly.

"Who is Lady Aria?"

"My cousin. Don't listen to their nonsense, Ruby. She's hideous."

The next day, I met the 'hideous' Lady Aria that Skylar had mentioned.

A young girl came rushing into the room, wearing a red dress that couldn't hide her very impressive curves as she ran.